One-carbon metabolism shapes T cell immunity in cancer

One-carbon metabolism (1CM), a metabolic network centered around the folate and methionine cycles, is intricately linked to T cell immune function in the progression of various diseases.Metabolites originating from 1CM have the ability to regulate signaling pathways within T cell and tumor cells.Tumor cells reshape 1CM within the tumor microenvironment (TME) to modulate the activation, survival, and differentiation of T cells through epigenetic modifications.Combining dietary interventions for 1CM with adoptive T cell therapy and immune checkpoint blockade could synergistically improve tumor control by bolstering T cell function within the TME. One-carbon metabolism (1CM), comprising folate metabolism and methionine metabolism, serves as an important mechanism for cellular energy provision and the production of vital signaling molecules, including single-carbon moieties. Its regulation is instrumental in sustaining the proliferation of cancer cells and facilitating metastasis; in addition, recent research has shed light on its impact on the efficacy of T cell-mediated immunotherapy. In this review, we consolidate current insights into how 1CM affects T cell activation, differentiation, and functionality. Furthermore, we delve into the strategies for modulating 1CM in both T cells and tumor cells to enhance the efficacy of adoptively transferred T cells, overcome metabolic challenges in the tumor microenvironment (TME), and maximize the benefits of T cell-mediated immunotherapy. One-carbon metabolism (1CM), comprising folate metabolism and methionine metabolism, serves as an important mechanism for cellular energy provision and the production of vital signaling molecules, including single-carbon moieties. Its regulation is instrumental in sustaining the proliferation of cancer cells and facilitating metastasis; in addition, recent research has shed light on its impact on the efficacy of T cell-mediated immunotherapy. In this review, we consolidate current insights into how 1CM affects T cell activation, differentiation, and functionality. Furthermore, we delve into the strategies for modulating 1CM in both T cells and tumor cells to enhance the efficacy of adoptively transferred T cells, overcome metabolic challenges in the tumor microenvironment (TME), and maximize the benefits of T cell-mediated immunotherapy.